What better opportunity than Earth Day to point out another way that photonics plays a role in improving the planet?
Awareness of the importance of taking care of the earth is becoming more widespread, and most importantly, not just in the affluent countries of the world. In fact, the developing nations are where some of the most innovative efforts are taking place. We've highlighted micro-solar projects in Africa and elsewhere, and the previous post about the LEDs being used to protect livestock from lions shows another brilliant but simple use of photonics.
Here's one that combines solar energy and an expanding communications infrastructure in India. AirJaldi Networks, a company that provides solar-powered Wi-Fi for the rural masses, was plagued by the difficulty of maintaining power to its mobile phone towers in remote areas, especially during the monsoon season. Battery backups were expensive and frequently necessary. As GreenTech Solar reports:
This is a step along the road toward making broadband available to everyone. In 2010, Finland declared that access to broadband is a human right. At present the majority of subscribers in the five Indian states served by AirJaldi (jaldi = "fast" in Hindi) are schools, nonprofits, and the like. But the company is hoping to change that.
Awareness of the importance of taking care of the earth is becoming more widespread, and most importantly, not just in the affluent countries of the world. In fact, the developing nations are where some of the most innovative efforts are taking place. We've highlighted micro-solar projects in Africa and elsewhere, and the previous post about the LEDs being used to protect livestock from lions shows another brilliant but simple use of photonics.
Here's one that combines solar energy and an expanding communications infrastructure in India. AirJaldi Networks, a company that provides solar-powered Wi-Fi for the rural masses, was plagued by the difficulty of maintaining power to its mobile phone towers in remote areas, especially during the monsoon season. Battery backups were expensive and frequently necessary. As GreenTech Solar reports:
Here’s how it works: every client has a router (just like you or I have at home) that gets connectivity via the airwaves and bandwidth provided by the telecom companies. AirJaldi mounts relays on small towers that receive a signal from other relays or a main distribution point. Those relays send the signal to AirJaldi’s clients. The main difference between our systems and theirs is the vast distance covered, which requires stronger routers.Next up is converting AirJaldi's network operations centers to solar, a more expensive proposition. But the first one will be converted soon.
This is a step along the road toward making broadband available to everyone. In 2010, Finland declared that access to broadband is a human right. At present the majority of subscribers in the five Indian states served by AirJaldi (jaldi = "fast" in Hindi) are schools, nonprofits, and the like. But the company is hoping to change that.
AirJaldi believes internet access is a right for every citizen and must be provided by fiat. As founder Michael Ginguld puts it: “We have come to expect and accept that electricity, water and roads are a given. Internet should be the same.” He’s got a good argument, too. For every 10 percent increase in internet access, a country sees a 1 percent increase in GDP.
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